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Attempting to blog… again.. (or) is blogging dead?

Various blogs of my own creation have cropped up on the internet over the past decade or so… some I would be more ashamed to own than others, but nevertheless I am going to attempt the blogging game again. For the past few years, as I since been married, finished a masters degree in library science, and took small vacations from serious theological study (to pursue silly ventures like poetry) I have maintained a tumblr blog, Paideia, which was a sporadic linkage of pictures, poems, quotes.

I wonder (aloud) as I attempt to grapple again in a somewhat public venue with various theological topics whether this type of venue has already seen its zenith? I remember when certain blogs (5 or 6 years ago) were highly visited, argued, debated, and even gathered the attention of various professors who joined the foray (this brings to mind Hunsinger’s appearance on Ben Myer’s blog, Faith & Theology).

In the Orthodox world there was much action/debate/gossip/news/etc. to be found on a few blogs, which have now switched venues or even ecclesiastical association.

So, why this blog?

My hope is to actually highlight certain Orthodoxy theological positions, debates, tensions, and interests in a fairly balanced and nuanced manner that I am currently not aware exists on the internet (with obvious nods to Aaron of Logismoi for his constant stream (perhaps dribble recently 😀 ) of quality posts). I am hoping for the type of conversations and insights notable from such blogs as the aforementioned Logismoi, Ora et Labora, A Vow of Conversation, and even the cantankerous but ever lovable Ochlophobist. However, as my temperament is not the same as the above I hope this blog will still present something of value.

This quote from Fr. Georges Florovosky will be a constant theme:

“Orthodoxy is summoned to witness. Now more than ever the Christian West stands before divergent prospects, a living question addressed also to the Orthodox world… The ‘old polemical theology’ has long ago lost its inner connection with any reality. Such theology was an academic discipline, and was always elaborated according to the same western ‘textbooks.’ A historiosophical exegesis of the western religious tragedy must become the new ‘polemical theology.’ But this tragedy must be reendured and relived, precisely as one’s own, and its potential catharsis must be demonstrated in the fullness of the experience of the Church and patristic tradition. In this newly sought Orthodox synthesis, the centuries-old experience of the Catholic West must be studied and diagnosed by Orthodox theology with greater care and sympathy than has been the case up to now… The Orthodox theologian must also offer his own testimony to this world — a testimony arising from the inner memory of the Church — and resolve the question with his historical findings.” – Georges Florovsky, Ways of Russian Theology II, pp. 302-304 — h/t to Fr. John Schroedel